Support the AAUS Foundation

The mission of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) is to facilitate the development of safe and productive scientific divers through education, research and the advancement of standards for scientific diving practices, certifications and operations. The AAUS Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation established to promote the philanthropic efforts of the Academy.

The Foundation will administer both existing and new scholarship initiatives on behalf of the Academy.

Donations for all awards can be made at www.aausfoundation.org. Please indicate in the notes section if you are donating to a particular award.

Research Awards

AAUS awards competitive scholarships to graduate students engaged in, or planning to begin, a research project in which diving is used as an important research tool or the research topic is diving science.

Kathy Johnston Scholarship awards $3000 to a doctoral program student.

AAUS may also award two additional $1500 scholarships to the next top-ranking proposals. If the additional scholarships are awarded, they may be split between the master and doctoral programs or they may be both awarded within a single program.

General Support Awards

Kevin Flanagan Student Travel Award provides up to $800 to undergraduate and/or graduate students interested in diving science to attend AAUS scientific meetings. The award is competitive merit-based. As many as three students may be funded annually.

*The Kevin Flanagan award was established in collaboration with Kevin's family as a legacy to his commitment to AAUS and scientific diving. Kevin served as AAUS board member (2009-2011) and diving safety officer at the University of Hawaii and East Carolina University prior to his death in April 2012. Our goal is to develop this as the first endowed award of the AAUS Foundation, permanently funded through interest earned on the raised capital.

Hollis Gear Award - Hollis (www.hollisgear.com) has graciously offered to fund a new scholarship program for AAUS student members engaged in, or planning to begin, a research project in which diving is or will be used as a principal research tool or study scientific diving. Hollis will provide up to two awards annually valued at $1250 per recipient ($1000 in Hollis diving equipment plus $250 to cover training or academic diving travel costs).

The AAUS awards The Kevin Gurr Scholarship and The Kathy Johnston Scholarship to graduate students engaged in, or planning to begin, a research project in which diving is or will be used as a principal research tool or studying diving science.